MATCH Report: Galway United vs Waterford (SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division)

Galway United returned to league action at home with a 3-1 win over Waterford FC in a clash between the top two sides in the league.

Unlike the 2-2 draw when the last two teams met back in August, it was a comfortable night for United with all three points secured.

The home team lined up as followed; captain Brendan Clarke, Conor O’Keefe, Robert Sleven, Killian Brouder, Stephen Walsh, David Hurley, Aodh Dervin, Vincent Borden, Evan O’Connor, Edward McCarthy and Wasiim Aouacharia.

 

FIRST HALF

In what was a very wet night in Eamon Deacy Park, Galway United started off with two early chances in the opening ten minutes, while Waterford struggling with the conditions with passing errors occurring around the pitch.

United had the first opportunity at goal one minute later with a cross from Aodh Dervin which found Stephen Walsh only for his shot to be saved by goalkeeper Sam Sargeant.

The first half saw very little in terms of cards being shown with United’s David Hurley picking up the first yellow card in the 13th minute of the game for taking down Connor Parsons, forcing a free kick for the away side at the edge of the box.

The home side took a hold of the game with their first goal in the 19th minute, Wassim Aouachria passed to Ed McCarthy, who went on a solo run escaping past three Waterford defenders before putting the ball into the back of the net to put United 1-0 in front.

Waterford picked up their first yellow card of the night when Harry Nevin failed to get the ball from a sliding tackle on United’s Dervin which originated from the aftermath of a free kick from The Blues.

United went close to their second goal of the night with a free kick on the edge of the box by Hurley, who found the head of Walsh forcing a save from Sargent once again.

But United doubled their lead in the 40th minute when a goal kick from captain Brendan Clarke found McCarthy 25 yards from goal who then goes on to score his second of the night and put Galway 2-0 ahead at half time.

SECOND HALF

The second half started off with no real chance either side until five minutes into the restart when a yellow card was shown to Waterford’s Cameron Cresswell for a challenge on David Hurley.

United scored their third goal in the 54th minute thanks to a 15 yard run from Hurley who lays the ball off to former Waterford forward Wassim Aouachria for his eight league goal of the season to put the result beyond doubt for the home side.

With just less than 20 minutes to go in the match, Substitute Francely Lomboto scrambled pass two Waterford defenders down the wing to take a shot at goal only for the ball to be saved by the keeper to go out for a corner.

Waterford got a goal back in the 87th minute when a cross put into the path of Derek Osede who headed the ball to Sam Perry to tap the ball into the net to make the game 3-1.

The full time whistle came in the 93rd minute, with United now sitting on a 23 point lead with the status of league champions secured last month.

NEXT UP 

Next up our Senior Men’s play Treaty United in Markets Field on Saturday 14th October, Kick off is 3pm.